Brian Thomas vs Chris Olave: Who Should You Start?
Brian Thomas and Chris Olave are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Brian Thomas averaged 8.2 PPG across 14 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Chris Olave posted 13.7 PPG in 16 appearances for the New Orleans Saints.
A 5.5-PPG gap gives Chris Olave the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Target volume is the story here. Chris Olave saw 156 targets in 2025, while Brian Thomas drew 91. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Chris Olave, even in weeks where Brian Thomas posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 12 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
